Ontario Junior Hockey League resident writer Ron Valentine is profiling the 2024-25 team captains across The OJ.
BY RON VALENTINE
Twenty-year old Oakville native AARON ANDRADE has been named the King Rebellion’s first captain.
The former Brantford 99ers relocated to King for the 2024-25 campaign. Aaron played 141 games for the Georgetown Raiders before becoming a 99er just before the 2024 trade deadline when he was traded for goalkeeper Aiden Berry.
Aaron has accumulated 110 regular season and playoff scoring points in the OJHL. He put up 30 points in just 17 games for Brantford, including a hat trick and a couple of two-goal games. He had over a hundred points in his last season of minor hockey with the Toronto Titans. Aaron was a fifth-round, 2020 OHL draft selection of the Guelph Storm.
Rebellion head coach Mark Joslin, the reigning OJHL Coach of the Year, knows the value of experience: “We needed a right hand shot up front, a bigger presence and they (the Raiders) wanted a veteran goalie so it was a good trade for both teams. He showed leadership as soon as he walked into the dressing room. He is a team guy who spearheaded our playoff push last season. Aaron gets lots of ice time because he can play in all situations and gets the best out of his linemates.”
Aaron, being a seasoned veteran, is ready for the challenge of being a captain of a ‘new’ franchise: “I was hoping I would get the honour of being named captain. I enjoyed my time in Georgetown but I think moving to Brantford did a lot for my confidence and I can’t say enough about coach Joslin and what he has done for me. I was able to spread my wings and reach my potential. I was a captain back in my bantam days with the Mississauga Senators so I feel pretty comfortable going in.”
“I would describe myself as a big, strong power forward who sees the ice well and can put the puck into the net. Being my final Junior season it’s obviously important for me to put my best foot forward and be a leader on the ice and in the dressing room. A Division 1 scholarship is out there for the taking! Our goal is to get to at least the second round of the playoffs, we were ousted by the juggernaut Collingwood Blues in the first round last season and I think we can at least get further when you combine our returnees and the new players that Mr. Joslin has acquired.”
“Everyone has a part to play on this club and we are already excited about how we have been able to create a great new fan base. We are looking forward to getting into our new home, the Zancor Centre, but will have to start our season in Nobleton. If I were to pick out some players who I think will have breakthrough seasons for us I would name up front, Josh Colosimo, a former teammate of mine in Georgetown. and on the backend, Simon Wang (who has already committed to NCAA’s Boston University) and we picked up a great goalscorer in Marshall McCharles from the Sudbury Cubs.”
“Mr. Joslin has a unique way of challenging us and it really works, he’ll say ‘I’m going to bring in a player that’s better than you’ and it’s up to us to prove he is not!”
The Rebellion opens the OJHL regular season in Burlington on Friday, Sept. 6.
Follow Ron Valentine on X @ronandlynda
